6H inner slide tubes: replace or retain
Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 9:06 pm
I have been wrestling with the decision of whether or not to replace the inner slide tubes on my late 50's 6H. Visually they actually don't look too bad. But there is a small are of scratchy plating loss on one spot where the stocking begins. If I stay on top of things (cleaning, etc) it moves perfectly fine. But it isn't as low maintenance as it used to be, and nowhere as easy to deal with as other horns I've owned over the years.
I'd come to the conclusion that I would budget the slide replacement. But after consulting with an older veteran trombone player/repairmen friend of mine, I changed my mind.
He pointed out the specs are different now than when my horn was produced. "improvements" have been made in manufacturing slide tubes, etc. And this means that tolerances won't necessarily be the same. And as a result, the sound and playing characteristics will change too. It doesn't mean that it will be worse, but it will be different.
With that in mind, I am staying the course. I can do just fine with my slide as is. I absolutely love the depth of tone and response - it is like no other horn (and no other 6H) that I have owned. So, as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
When I was playing in Germany I was blessed to spend a lot of time with Bobby (Butter) Burgess (on bands and hanging out). He was a font of great advice. He gave me the same advice regarding changing slide tubes.
RIP Bobby; you were right all along.
I'd come to the conclusion that I would budget the slide replacement. But after consulting with an older veteran trombone player/repairmen friend of mine, I changed my mind.
He pointed out the specs are different now than when my horn was produced. "improvements" have been made in manufacturing slide tubes, etc. And this means that tolerances won't necessarily be the same. And as a result, the sound and playing characteristics will change too. It doesn't mean that it will be worse, but it will be different.
With that in mind, I am staying the course. I can do just fine with my slide as is. I absolutely love the depth of tone and response - it is like no other horn (and no other 6H) that I have owned. So, as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
When I was playing in Germany I was blessed to spend a lot of time with Bobby (Butter) Burgess (on bands and hanging out). He was a font of great advice. He gave me the same advice regarding changing slide tubes.
RIP Bobby; you were right all along.